mg325 bit the dust

[wrnchmonkey]

Well today was a GREAT day... In the middle of doing lower ball joints on a BMW z3 my 325 bit the dust. Lets just say that you pull the trigger air comes out of the exhaust but it does NOT spin up. Upon further inspection the square drive is jammed and can only get about a 1/4 turn in either direction when turned with pliers. I do oil my air tools every day before i use them for the first time. I have a feeling the impact mechanism imploded which has nothing to do with how often i oil this pos gun.

Now i use this gun everyday and only had an hour of work left when it broke (and just so happens the matco guy was there when it happened lol ) and i grabbed for it 4 times. So my question is who has had this happen, how much is a rebuild in general, should i make the switch to the IR, and last but not least how long does it take to get rebuilt.

One more thing i found my receipt and go figure its 3 months out of warranty. I am VERY VERY upset right now to say the least.

 

[Fedwrench]

The good thing is that Snap on has a flat rate rebuild program where for like $75 (it may be more now), they'll rebuild your impact. Your dealer may be able to provide you a loaner while it's being rebuilt too.
I prefer the 2135timax because of it's better balance and lighter weight. However, you should always have a spare.

 

[Deafautotech]

i had my snap on MG31 rebuilt and only cost me 120 dollars as it come with new impact case, everything inside are new... it is worth to me!!

good idea to have spare 3/8drive impacts.... not as i do own a three MG31 and one IM31.... problem is i cant let used MG31 go as only 25 or 50 dollars... so i has one for my own garage...

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

I second the IR timax,i dont own it yet but i will soon.

 

[wrnchmonkey]

The good thing is that Snap on has a flat rate rebuild program where for like $75 (it may be more now), they'll rebuild your impact. Your dealer may be able to provide you a loaner while it's being rebuilt too.
I prefer the 2135timax because of it's better balance and lighter weight. However, you should always have a spare.

Im thinking about getting the 2115timax to "replace" this one and when the 325 gets back from repair putting it in the box as a spare. I can't see selling it after its fixed as i won't get what i want for it and who knows the IR might die the next time i have to do z3 balljoints

My biggest issue is that my snap on guy is A: a pushy salesperson and sometimes a downright ******* and B: Not really our true snap on guy but just happened to show up one day. I just feel uncomfortable giving him the gun for repair and not ever seeing him or it again.

 

[wrnchmonkey]

This whole thing scares me as i also own a mg725 and CANNOT afford to have that break too. Might just have to go and buy both the 1/2" and 3/8" timax guns!!!

 

[Skin]

oh look another dead SO impact

 

[energ666]

mg325 > 2115ti max imo. i had the IR, now have the SO and will never look back, i had a co-worker trade his mg325 in on an IR to the mac dude, called the mac guy the next day to see if he could buy his old gun back- sold

IR has no where near the torque, and no brake.. snap-on rebuild should be about 90$ and easier to get taken care of than the IR

 

[Deafautotech]

Im thinking about getting the 2115timax to "replace" this one and when the 325 gets back from repair putting it in the box as a spare. I can't see selling it after its fixed as i won't get what i want for it and who knows the IR might die the next time i have to do z3 balljoints

My biggest issue is that my snap on guy is A: a pushy salesperson and sometimes a downright ******* and B: Not really our true snap on guy but just happened to show up one day. I just feel uncomfortable giving him the gun for repair and not ever seeing him or it again.

maybe you may need contact the snap on rep for regional?? or contact the snap on on snap on website to call them...

i has a good snap on guy...

 

[redwrench60]

For a bunch of guys that fix broken machines all day, we sure are surprised when our power tools (also machines) break. I've seen the Ingersoll and Snap On guns break. I use both between work and home. best advice is to keep spares, fix broke and move on with life.

 

[Skin]

SO impacts use a sealed motor...should they use JBWeld and duct tape? When pneumatic tools break they really break. I dont know about you but i dont keep spare triggers, gaskets, assembly grease, hammer mechanisms + housings/motors lying around in my box. Much easier in the long run to just buy a cheap spare.

Also most guys are on the clock and as such i dont think the management would be too happy if a guy plops down for 30-45min to fiddle with an impact.

 

[Toolhorder]

It's funny I like SO but I will NOT buy their air tools. Just look at the treads here on GJ. There are plenty about this gun breaking. I don't think I've even seen one IR thread for a ti max.
Who cares if it's $90-120 to flat rate rebuild it? The point is not rebuilding it or it breaking in the first place. I've had my IR ti max original version over 10 yrs. still going strong. There's no reason an air gun shouldn't last that long especially if it's a SO product. They need to catch up already and build a better product. If I was the CEO of SO I'd fire the air gun dept. The best thing they've come up with is metallic paint jobs to sell their product. Lame..

 

[billymade]

I would just call snapon customer service and deal with them directly; I'm sure they can get the rebuild handled in a timely manner. I had a number of snap on air tools shipped out using their flat rate service from my dealer (he gave me a loaner tool); turnaround was 3 to 4 weeks, depending on how busy the service center was. Give them a call; they may have more options being corporate, let us know how it goes. For my main air tools; I always like to have two of each; when one goes down, get it repaired (meanwhile use the backup) and when the other goes down, you have one that is ready to go... costs more money but no downtime, it just makes sense. All air tools will break eventually; just be ready with a back up when they do...

 

[Toolhorder]

I would just call snapon customer service and deal with them directly; I'm sure they can get the rebuild handled in a timely manner. I had a number of snap on air tools shipped out using their flat rate service from my dealer (he gave me a loaner tool); turnaround was 3 to 4 weeks, depending on how busy the service center was. Give them a call; they may have more options being corporate, let us know how it goes. For my main air tools; I always like to have two of each; when one goes down, get it repaired (meanwhile use the backup) and when the other goes down, you have one that is ready to go... costs more money but no downtime, it just makes sense. All air tools will break eventually; just be ready with a back up when they do...

If you buy Snap-on buy two so you have one when the first breaks or just buy one IR and never have a problem again.

 

[billymade]

Yeah, I think its worth having a back up of any air tool; no matter the brand... if it goes down you can't work if you only have one! If your a pro; your stuck! Contingency plans are always a good thing!

 

[smogtech]

I own a mg31 and never had any issues. I also never oil my gun; correct me if I am wrong the MG series impacts are all constant oil bath lubrication and don't need to be oiled. It seems like all the MG that are dying people are lubricating them like they would a normal gun.

Similar situation in a friends shop. 2 guys bought a mg725 around the same time. one never lubricates his gun one guy does it daily. the one who oils it daily took a **** while the other runs great till this day.

 

[chewy7]

ANother one bites the dust lol. I do have that same impact wrench but i don't use it every day lol. My back up for that one is a cp734h

 

[Skyline]

I get a lot of used air tools in the collections I buy, and plenty need repair, mostly impacts. I think it's just the nature of an impact to eventually fail...these things just seem to beat themselves to death. And the latest IR guns are no exception, I've had to fix those as well. The IR's plastic rotor vanes seem to be their weak point.

I've not yet had a broken mg gun...I wonder if they are even possible to fix yourself due to the sealed motor. It's easy to get parts and repair older Snap-on guns, but I'm pretty sure if you have to replace a sealed motor, sending it in is going to be the only viable option.

Also, does anyone have a souce for parts for IR airtools?

 

[Skyline]

I just checked the Snap-on web site, and it appears you CAN get some internal parts for the MG325. The exploded diagram numbers over 35 different parts, although less than half are available to order, (which is NOT a good thing). But at least a number of the wear and tear parts (like the vanes), ARE on the available list.

Can one our Snappy dealers look to see if they have access to the full parts list to order? If so, these guns should be no harder to fix than an older style gun...except you might need to replace motor seals on re-assembly. Air guns are NOT complicated things to repair; parts availibility is the key.

 

[csmitty]

I to have wondered about the "sealed" impact. I thought it was just the hammer mechanism. If it was a sealed motor how would the air get to it? Thats why I figured it still needed to be oiled.

I picked my MG325 up used. But was an early 2011 that didn't show a whole lot of use. Finally got a good air source at the house and its pretty insane to say the least. I guess it comes with more power and the expensive of reliability. I've got an original 2135Ti and its been an awesome gun. Dad broke the trigger somehow once not long ago and took it to a retailer and he just gave me the little seal I think it was that cracked.

I wouldn't mind a 2115Ti for sure but for home use, even if the 325 went down I could probably get by with the 2135 until it got back, if I even needed it at all. Only paid $57 for the 325 anyways

 

[country83]

A sealed impact means that the impact mechanism itself it sealed- no oiling or greasing necessary. The air motor, however, DOES need oiling (using a good quality air motor oil) to lubricate the vanes and other rotating motor parts. A shot of said oil in the air inlet every day should be sufficient.

 

[chadster1]

Here is the parts list that I have for an MG325.

MG3151P12R 1 Pinned Anvil (1/2")
01 MG325-1R 1 Housing
01A MG325-29 1 Top Pad
05 MG325-11 1 Frame
08 MG325-504 1 Front End Plate
11 MG325-7 1 Cylinder Liner
12 MG31-530-8V 8 Vanes
13 MG325-506 1 Rotor
15 MG325-502 1 Rear Wear Plate
18 MG325-9 1 Reverse Valve
19 MG325-3 1 End Cap Gasket
20 MG325-33 1 Motor Gasket
21 MG325-2R 1 End Cap
22 MG325-16 1 Regulator Knob
31 MG325BOOT 1 Boot (for MG325)

Flat rate rebuild is $124. Warranty on the MG325 is 2 years.

 

[ricleh]

I get a lot of used air tools in the collections I buy, and plenty need repair, mostly impacts. I think it's just the nature of an impact to eventually fail...these things just seem to beat themselves to death. And the latest IR guns are no exception, I've had to fix those as well. The IR's plastic rotor vanes seem to be their weak point.

I've not yet had a broken mg gun...I wonder if they are even possible to fix yourself due to the sealed motor. It's easy to get parts and repair older Snap-on guns, but I'm pretty sure if you have to replace a sealed motor, sending it in is going to be the only viable option.

Also, does anyone have a souce for parts for IR airtools?

You can repair the sealed guns just like any other. I replaced the pin style anvil on a MG gun and had to take it completely apart to do that. It was fairly easy. From my personal experience the Snapon MG impacts are superior to the IR TiMax impacts. I have a 2135Ti that I never use. It is lighter than the MG725, but has much less power and torque. Everyone I know who has tried to warranty an IR impact has been refused due to "water infiltration". So if you have an IR gun you better be running a dryer and a membrane filter with your compressor. I'm not a big fan of IR pneumatic tools these days. Snapon has put out some **** in the past, but the current impacts are very good.

 

[Skyline]

You can repair the sealed guns just like any other. I replaced the pin style anvil on a MG gun and had to take it completely apart to do that. It was fairly easy. From my personal experience the Snapon MG impacts are superior to the IR TiMax impacts. I have a 2135Ti that I never use. It is lighter than the MG725, but has much less power and torque. Everyone I know who has tried to warranty an IR impact has been refused due to "water infiltration". So if you have an IR gun you better be running a dryer and a membrane filter with your compressor. I'm not a big fan of IR pneumatic tools these days. Snapon has put out some **** in the past, but the current impacts are very good.

If your 2135 is weak, it might need new plastic vanes. This is NOT a weak gun. While I have MG guns now, I had absolutely no complaints with the 2135 I had before. One thing I've seen happen is the vane itself is soft enough (I think they use Delrin,) on those to get pinched between the rotor and casing. Even the slightest bit of sqeezed plastic in there is enough to loose power on a gun, and often the vane then loses its freedom of movement.

 

[Skyline]

Here is the parts list that I have for an MG325.

MG3151P12R 1 Pinned Anvil (1/2")
01 MG325-1R 1 Housing
01A MG325-29 1 Top Pad
05 MG325-11 1 Frame
08 MG325-504 1 Front End Plate
11 MG325-7 1 Cylinder Liner
12 MG31-530-8V 8 Vanes
13 MG325-506 1 Rotor
15 MG325-502 1 Rear Wear Plate
18 MG325-9 1 Reverse Valve
19 MG325-3 1 End Cap Gasket
20 MG325-33 1 Motor Gasket
21 MG325-2R 1 End Cap
22 MG325-16 1 Regulator Knob
31 MG325BOOT 1 Boot (for MG325)

Flat rate rebuild is $124. Warranty on the MG325 is 2 years.

Same list I saw online. What's with all the missing numbers in this sequence???? Like parts 2,3,4,6,7, etc....

I could understand if this was on some gun discontinued 10 years ago...but this is a current item. For example..all the trigger mechanism parts are missing. That spring and valve are wear and tear items, and should be made available.

 

[wrnchmonkey]

So i picked up the ir 2115timax yesterday for 255 with the ir boot. pretty happy with it thus far except it didn't fit where i needed it to during me pulling the motor on a 97 mercedes e320. Just for fun i tried to see if the snappy would fit and it did... oh well guess after i get the snappy rebuilt ill use it for those instances.

 

[Marlin]

So i picked up the ir 2115timax yesterday for 255 with the ir boot. pretty happy with it thus far except it didn't fit where i needed it to during me pulling the motor on a 97 mercedes e320. Just for fun i tried to see if the snappy would fit and it did... oh well guess after i get the snappy rebuilt ill use it for those instances.

Or get a Hammerhead.

 

[wrnchmonkey]

Or get a Hammerhead.

They have my interest for sure.

 

[wrnchmonkey]

just got it back from snappy and it lasted me 3 days........ Time to make a call to customer service.

 

[ourkid2000]

just got it back from snappy and it lasted me 3 days........ Time to make a call to customer service.

Man, that's a bummer. I'd be rotted!

 

[LGMechanical]

I had my 725 implode after 3 1/2 years. Got it rebuilt for $120. Came back in 2 weeks. I still love the gun. I will not support the asian economy therefore wont be buying IR ever.

 

[Skin]

just got it back from snappy and it lasted me 3 days........ Time to make a call to customer service.

Get yourself a refund and get a 2115qtimax. As long as you service it properly you wont regret it.

I had my 725 implode after 3 1/2 years. Got it rebuilt for $120. Came back in 2 weeks. I still love the gun. I will not support the asian economy therefore wont be buying IR ever.

I've had my 2135qtimax for going on 6 years and its still going strong. Oh and most of it is made here. You keep supporting who ever you want, i'll keep supporting IR who does indeed make most of what goes into their products in NA.

 

[LGMechanical]

Get yourself a refund and get a 2115qtimax. As long as you service it properly you wont regret it.



I've had my 2135qtimax for going on 6 years and its still going strong. Oh and most of it is made here. You keep supporting who ever you want, i'll keep supporting IR who does indeed make most of what goes into their products in NA.

I have a old 231 that I got for free. It makes an amazing wheel chock.

 

[redwrench60]

It seems like lately about half of all air tools I see that get sent off for flat rate repairs are bad right out of the gate, or fail very soon after. Sometimes it's just something small, but certainly not in good as new contition. I think whoever Snap On has doing their reconditioning is just replacing whats broken, not going through the whole tool. This is why I normally order the parts and fix them myself. Sometimes the cost of parts exceeds the cost of flatrate repairs though, so I send it off and hold my breath.

 

[csargents1546]

What you can do if you do not see the part on the SO website is shot them an email with the description of the part you need and they usually have a list of parts that will fit your needs. Had an older far ratchet, the broken part was not listed, emailed them and got a superceeded part number.

Hell of a note that your gun broke 3 days after it was repaired. Definatley a call into SO customer service is in order.

 

[Marlin]

I had my 725 implode after 3 1/2 years. Got it rebuilt for $120. Came back in 2 weeks. I still love the gun. I will not support the asian economy therefore wont be buying IR ever.

The MAX line of impacts are built in North Carolina, along with many other products.

 

[CHRIS LUCKYMAN]

I have a old 231 that I got for free. It makes an amazing wheel chock.

Well played.